Self and gael mullee



BEST AVAILABLE COP 2 Sheets'-Shet 1.. H. VON DER HEYDT,

Assignor tdself and G. MULLER.

SELF WINDING WATCH- No 10,613. Reissued Juile 16, 1885 BEST AVAILABLE COP 1 2 ShG ts Sheet, 2. H, VON DER HEYDT,

Assignor toj self and G. MULLER; v

SELF WINDING WATCH. 0. 10,.613.

m. R 1.. 2 w WN U WW BEST AVAILABLE COP UNITED STATES PATENT Orrr HERMANN VON DER HEYD'I, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF AND CARL MI ILLER, OF SAME PLACE.

SELF-WINDING WATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Reissued Letters Patent No. 10,613, defined June 16, 1885.

Original No. 293,[l9l, dated February 19. 188i. Application for reissue filed December 27, 1884.

county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Selfinding Watches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had ters of reference marked thereon,'which form part of this specifi ation- The idea of constructing watches made selfwinding' by means of the vibrations. of a pendulum connected with the mainspring, the said vibrations being produced by the physical movements of the wearerin walking, originated with one Breguet, of Paris, France, at or about the beginning of the present century. Himself a man of extraordinary ability in the practice of his art, he was able to make selfwinding watches of such perfect workmanship that, even at this time, various samples of his skill in this direction are in existence, and still continue, it is believed, to perform their functions satisfactorily. The principle upon which Breguet constructed his selt'windiug watch has met since with various attempts, more or less successful, at improvement. these the most recent attempt, so far asknown, is due to oneAugust von Loehr,of Vienna, Austria, to whom Letters Patent ofthe United States No. 21.1,280were granted January 7, 1879. This device is objectionable from the fact that it cannot be suiiiciently wound up unless worn by one who takes considerable bodily exercise. The patentee himself recognizes this lact in various articles written by him; but he regards it rather as an advantage than otherwise, not to the watch, however, but to its possessor, since, as he has stated, every one wearinga watch of his construction will, be reminded of the evil of his ways by the failure of his'time-piece to perform its duty by running down, so that it thereby becomes a vmonitor tending to reform the wearer of his inactive habits, thus promoting his general health; Whatever its advantages inconduciiig to the enjoyment of bodily health, it lacks 5o anirn ortant feature to inakeit a practical and "usefu time-keeper for general use-via, the

to the accompanying drawings, and to the let.

adaptability of its mechanism to niainsprings other than those of the kind employed in the most. delicate watches of the smallest size, and known to the trade in this country as the ladys watch; and it is further found, notwithstanding the assurance that owing to its peculiar construction the main'spring cannot be overwound, that such is not strictly correct, for there is a continual strain upon the spring after the latter has been wound to its full capacity, owing to the continuing action ofthe pendulum when the wearer exercises himself for. a longer time than is required to fully wind the watch.

It is my object to overcome these objections, and my invention consists in certain mechanisms, hereinafter described, wherebya watch is made self-winding, and whereby, in order to be sufficiently wound,up to go a whole 7 day, the wearer will he required to walk only about fifteen minutes or perform movements of his body that will be equivalent to walking that length of time. At the same timethe self-windiug mechanism constituting a parts of 7 my invention is capable, by its application, of successfully operating the mainsprings of watches of all sizes; and ,to obviate any further winding of or strain upon the spring afterit has been wound up to a desired extent,

I have invented a'suitable automatic mechanism.

My invention further consists in providing a self-winding mechanism whereby not only the coarsest mainspring used in watches may 8 be wound by a minimum of vibrations of a pendulum, but which shall be so arranged that the space required for the works of an ordinary watch need not be increased to accommodate its parts; and it still further consistsin certain additional features, details of construc tion, and combinations of parts, all" as hereinaftermore fully set forth.

' In my invention the self-winding mechan ism has but six parts additional to those of an ordinary key-winding watch, while the mechanism .for protecting the mainspring from overwinding has but live, thus making a total of eleven additional parts.

Inthe drawings, Figure 1 is a plan viewof i that. part of my invention by which the selfwinding is efiected. Fig. 2 is a vertical secrelieving the inainspring from strain when it has been wound to a desired extent. Figs. a

and 5 are detail views, the latter being a section taken on theline 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Ais the pendulum, partly covered by the plate in Fig. 1 of the drawings,but fully shown in Fig. 3,511: which the pendulum is shown as curved at its inner side coneentriea'lly with the pivotal axis of the pendulum, and as having its outer side formed by two circular curves of approximately the same radius as the inner wall of the watch-case, and so arranged that they fit closely to the adjacent parts of the said inner wall of the case at each limit of the vibration of the pendulum. By

making the pendulum of the form described,

Iain enabled to use a heavier pendulum in a given space than would otherwise be possible,

' and in view of EhQ liDPIOVGd result thus ohmined the construction of the pendulum described is made the subject of a claim herein.

Secured at one end to the upper face of the pcndul'umAis the pendulum-rod A, said pendulum-rod being located at the side of the watch adjacent to the dial and in the recess iornled in thehpiate beneath the dial to aiiord space for the wheels and pinions by which the proper relative speed is given tothe hour and minute hands,thesaid pendulum being curved,

as shown, to avoid interference with said wheels and pinions'. r

The obvious advantage of the construction and location of the pendulum-rod,as described, is that no change in the proportions of the watch or increase in its thickness is rendered necessary to give room for the said roL' The pendulum-rod at its outer end is pivoted con centrically with the axis of the ratchet-wheel B by means of a pin passing through the hollow arbor of said wheel, and supported ateaeh end in the watch-plate, so as to prevent the movements or" the pendulum in any way influencing the movements of the said wheel.

C is a spring which engages with a pivot,u,'

, inserted in the face of therod A. near its ex treinity, and the strength of which corresponds with the weight of the pendulum. This spring serves to keep the pendulum A rest, and to force it back into position when caused to vibrate by the motion of the body.

.011 and firmly secured thereto at one endisa pawl, u, suiiiciently stiff to preventiiss b nd When by a motion orjar in walrzing thepeuglna loin moves downwardly against the -ao,tion of 's the spring 43, thepawl :0 drives theratehetwheel part way round, where it is held; byi' forty-five hours before running down.

the inner side of the pendulum-rod A' thereof is as 03.10

. Referring to -and3 of the drawings, 1 is'a ooliar'or ,oeni-svheei secures upon the mainspringarhor 'adjaoent to the barrel BEST AVAILABLE co means of a pawl, i, acting as a detent, thelat-' ter loeiu similarl laced and similar incon struotion to the pawl The ratehetwheel Bis provided with fine'teeth, usually about one hundred in number.

its arbor is provid I ed with a pinion having ten teethto engage with the wheel D, having an arbor, d, which has a pinion with eight teeth constructed to engage the wheel E, which has iertyeight teeth, and which operates the n ainspringarthe above arrangement of the wheels it will be seen ti at to cause a complete revolution of the ratchet-wheel will require.twentyvibi'ations of the pendulum. These twenty'vibrations will drive the wheel D s means of-thepinion provided with ten teeth upon the ratchetwheel arbor around five of itsieeth and, having in ail fifty of such teeth, saiu wheel i) will re" quire iive revolutions of the rateh'etwheel, or one hundred vibrations of thependulnm,.to completely revolve it. The pinion of the arbor d, with eight teeth, will with one revo lotion. of the wheel I) drive the wheel E,with forty-eight teeth, around eight of its teeth, and a. complete revolution of the latter wilt require six revolutions of the wheel D, or six hundred vibrations of the pendulum.

The mainspring Fis preferably ofsuoh leng h that-it will require six and three-quarters revolutions of the mainspring-arhor to complet wind it up, and itis so arranged that one suoh revolution will cause the watch to run six and two-thirds hours. Six resolntions of the mainspring-arhor will therefore wind, the watch sufiiciently to go forty hours; and, if wound to its utmost capacity, it would go I pre fer, however, to aliow the last five hours of the springscapaeity to remain unutilized, to avoid possible strain thereon, and with that iew have invented a means of checking the vibrations of the pendulum when, the number six times six hundred or thirty-six hundred thereof has been reached, only aliowing it again to vibrate when the watch has partially;

\ 1 ing device 1 have described the specific me in a vertical position, or approximately midway between the upper and lower lisnitsrof vibratory movements, when therrearer isat chanisz'n by means of which the purpose is preferably efieoted, Tita s obvious, however,

that slight changes nii'fry neniade in the positions and constructions ofothe difierent parts without departing from the spirit of in in vention, and that likewise thenuin'oer of teeth, Stag-in the geaenieohanism mayhe varied and still produce the desired resuits. 1 therefore do notloonfine myself to the above specific eonstruotion. The checking tlev'i'ee tent feature of my invention, anal a description land provided with one'tooth or cam-projection, fllldH is a notched wheel ordisk which is pivoted upon the head of the said barrel-in position for engagement; with the collar G. As herein shown, ,both the collar G and wheel H are located in a recess in the head of the barrel. The object beingto prevent further winding by the continued vibration oi the pendulum after the arbor 'has made'six revolutions, the notched'wheel is provided with six spurs orprojections and seven notches, one of which is engaged by the tooth upon the collar G at each revolution of the latter, so that the said wheel is rotated intermittently a distance of one tooth at each rotation of the arbor. A wheel, K. having'a serrated or notched periphery is mounted to rotate freely upon the mainspring-arbor, said wheel being engaged with a point or projection upon va pivoted catch-c1ick or detent, L, which is pro-,

vided with a projection, p, adapted for en gagement with the pendulum in such manner as to hold the latter from vibratory movement. The catch-olick or deteut L is held in position for the engagement of its'point with the teeth or serrated edge of the wheelK by means of a spring, n, and the said wheel is caused to rotate with the barrel I as the latter turns in the running of the watch, by means of a yielding connection between the said wheel andthe barrel, herein sliown as in the form of a spring, q, attached at one end to the and-1' and in section-inFig. 50f thedraw-ings) which passes part way round the circumferwheel, and engaged at .its opposite end with v the side wall of, the recess in the barrelhead,

the detent being so arranged that the point thereof which is held in engagement with the wheel K.' is caused to slip overthe teeth or serrations of said wheel in the rotation of the latter with the barrel in the. manner above stated. Upon the wheel K is locateda finger,

g, (herein shown as made in one piece with the spring q and pivoted to the said wheeh) said linger being located in position to engage a projection or tooth, r, upon the wheel H, the finger and tooth being so located that when the arbor has made six rotations in winding and the tooth upon the collar G has entered the last notch of the wheel H the tooth will encounter the finger g, thereby causing a partial backward rotation of the wheel K against the action of the spring q, and amovemeut" of the point of the catch-click- L engaged therewith in a direction to cause the engage ment of the projection 1 thereon with the penduluin. As soon as the movement of the ,arbor tending to wind the mainspring has with a recess, adapted for engagement with the projection p upon the detent; but inasmuch as the projection uponthe detent is-eaused to engage the pendulum through intermediate devices actuated by the pendulum itself, it will be observed that the piojection cannot enter to any considerable distance into the notch. In practice. however, the saidprojection is carried forcibly against the inner face of the pendulum until by the frictional contact-therewith the vibratory movement of the latter is stopped. .If, however, while the projection is held in contact with the pendulum, the recess, by the slipping of the projection upon the pendulum, comes. opposite the projection, the said'projection will be caused to positively engage tlie recess by the slight springing. of the metal composing the several parts of the winding'and stop mechanisms.

As far as the operation of the devices abovedescribed in preventing the overwinding of the m'ainspring is concerned, the recess 0 in the pendulum is obviously not essential, inasmuch as the'end mentioned will in all cases be attained by the contact of the detent with the; said pendulum. For the purpose of positively stopping the vibratory movement of the pendulum, the said recess will usually be found desirahlahutfor this purpose also the frictional contact of the detent with the pendulum maybs found su'tficient.

M is a thin metal band (shown in- Figs. 3

once of the plates of the watch, and is extended at its ends into the chamber in which the pendulum A is located, so. asto form springs m m, adaptedto be encountered- .by the'pendulum at the upper and lo'wer'limits oi the vibratory movements of the latter, and-to thereby afi'ord cushionstpprevent the noise and jar which would otherwise be caused by the pendulum or the penduluni rod striking a'gairmt parts of BEST AVAILABLE COP f3 IIO the platesor the inner walls of the case, and

also to accelerate the vibratiousof the pendulum.

In the particular construction of the parts herein shown, the band is fittedat its edges in opposite grooves formed in the inner faces of the plates neat-the edges of thelatter, a screw, is, (shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings,) being preferably inserted through the band as additional security against displacement of the latter.

Springs m in may obviously be supported otherwise than by being made as part of a band, M, as herein shown. is found advantageous, however, for the reason that the said band serves'to close the space at the margin of the plates, so as to exclude dust from theworks of the watch, as well asto. form suitable springs or cushions attaching the said springs m m to the plates.

Since it is not intended that my invention shall produce perpetual motion either in the watches to which it is applied, or necessitate This construction 7 it on the part of thewearers thereof, circumstances, may arise under which the pendulum willnotbe caused to vibrate and. thewatch 1 wouldtherefore be allowed to run down,

' [unless some other means were provided for winding it up and also for setting the hands.

These requirements are met with a key, It, provided with a screwthread to permit it to be screwed into the stem of the watch, suitably prepared to receive it. No claim is made herein to the said key. as it is intended that the latter shall form the subject of a separate I application for patent.

The arrangement of my winding device, containing as it does but two extra wheels, B and D, admits the winding of the mainspring in the barrel without detriment to the winding mechanism. This would not be the case had there been more wheels employed, since the last onecorresponding with the ratchetwheel B would have had to make its revolu tions, unless wound with painful slowness,

with such rapidity as to have done it, and

likely also its immediate neighbor, serious injury.

with the vibrating winding pendulum, of a I'ciaimas my invention-- 1. Ina self-winding watch, the combination, with a vibrating winding pendulum, of a spring-actuated detent adapted to engage the pendulum, a notched or; serrated wheel, as K, engaged with the idetent, means connecting said wheel with'the mainspringbjarrcl, whereby the wheel is caused to rotate with the barrel, and means actuated by the part of the watch mechanism which is'moved in winding, constructed to rotate the said wheel relatively to the barrel when the watch iswound to a desired extent, whereby the detent will be caused to enga'gcthe pendulum, substantially as described. 7 p

2. In a self-winding watch, the combination,

pivoted detent constructed to engage the pendulum, a notched or serrated wheel, K, mounted concentrically with the mainspringarbor, and engagedwith the said detent,a spring, n, applied to hold the detect in position for engagement with the wheel K, a. yielding connection between. the barrel and wheel K for causing the rotation of the said wheel with the barrel, and means for causing a partial backo a '1o,613= {SESTAVAILABLE cos ward rotation of the said wheel K when the watch is wound to a desired extent, whereby the detent is caused to engage thependuliim, substantially as. and for the purpose set forth;

3. In aself-winding watch, the combination, with the pendulum A, of mechanism for preventing overwinding of the 'mainspring, 'cornprising a pivoted detent adapted to engage the pendulum, a wheel, K, mounted upon the H mainspring-arbor, a cam-wheel, G, upon the said arbor, a notched wheel, H, mounted upon the barrel and provided with a tooth or .pro-

jection r, a spring, q, connecting the barrel with the wheel K, and a finger, q, attached to the wheel K, and adapted for engagement with the tooth 'r of the said wheel H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a self-winding watch, in combination with the pendulum A, mechanism to prevent overwinding of the mainspring, said mechan= ism consisting of a canrwheel, G, on the barrel containing the mainspring, intermittent wheel H, having a tooth, r, to press against the finger q, the latter being pivoted to the wheel K, and having a continuation to form a spring, q, to force the wheel K around in the direction of therevolving barrel when the mainspring is unwinding, and catch-click L, engaging at its point with the teeth of the wheel K, and held in position by means of the spring n, and provided with a projection, p, to fit into a recess, p, in the pendulum; substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a self-winding watch, the band M, fitting within recesses, one on each inner face of the two plates of a watch, and formed near the edges of the said plates, andhaving its ends projecting into the pendulum-chamber to allow the pendulum to strike against them in its vibrations, thus preventing noise andopcrating to accelerate the vibrations of the said,

pendulum, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 

